Tag: 2023 football recruiting

Blue-chip defensive lineman sets return visit to Florida

The Gators are in the mix for Derrick LeBlanc, a talented edge rusher from Kissimmee. He will be on campus the weekend of March 5.

The 2023 recruiting cycle may have just officially kicked off a few years ago, but Florida coach Billy Napier and his staff are going full steam ahead to try to build relationships with prospects.

One of the main targets will be four-star defensive lineman Derrick LeBlanc. The 6-foot-4-inch, 270-pound prospect from Osceola (Kissimmee) is the No. 86 player in the country and No. 12 DL, and he plans to be on campus the weekend of March 5, according to a report from On3’s Gerry Hamilton.

That will be a busy recruiting weekend for the Gators, who will have a number of targets taking visits. LeBlanc, a blue-chip in-state prospect, will be one of the major ones.

He was in Miami this weekend for the Under Armour All-America Camp and has committed to play in the 2023 All-American Bowl.

LeBlanc picked up an offer under the previous staff and officially visited UF several times during the fall. He also made a trip in January to meet with the new staff, so this will be his second time visiting with them.

He also picked up an offer from Oklahoma on Friday and plans to visit the Sooners on March 24. He also has offers from other top programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia.

Recruiting in the trenches will be key if Florida is going to compete with the most talented teams in the SEC, and it’s clear that Napier and Co. are making that a priority in their first full recruiting cycle.

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Florida is attempting to get this 4-star offensive tackle on campus

Napier and his staff are trying to get the No. 2-rated 2023 offensive tackle onto campus.

Coaches Billy Napier, Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton are looking to revamp Florida’s offensive line unit after several years of subpar recruiting by former coaches Dan Mullen and John Hevesy. The new Gators staff so far have prioritized in-state targets like Payton Kirkland, Francis Mauigoa, and Tommy Kinsler.

Now Napier and Co. are trying to sway out-of-state recruits like four-star Samson Okunlola to venture down to the Swamp. Gators Online’s Corey Bender spoke to Okunlola this week about Florida’s attempts to get the No. 2-rated offensive tackle to campus.

The Brockton, Massachusetts product said he has spoken with Stapleton only a couple of times because he’s been consumed with wrestling and workouts.

“But overall, those couple of talks have been pretty good. He seems like a pretty good dude and a pretty good coach, so I’ll talk to him more and see how it is,” Okunlola said.

He added he’s spoken to Sale, too, and is excited about what he brings to the program after spending a season with the New York Giants.

If he did visit Gainesville, it wouldn’t be the first time that he’s visited the University of Florida. He previously visited last July under Mullen’s staff.

Besides the Gators offer, Okunlola has received the green light from other schools like Georgia, Ohio State, USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas A&M among others.

He said no visits are currently scheduled but all the schools mentioned are trying to secure a visit this spring. Okunlola also added that he hopes to trim his list of offers before the summer.

Looking ahead to the summer, he wants to take three to four and take the rest in the fall.

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Florida is staying in contact with this in-state 4-star WR

Four-star wide receiver Aidan Mizell grew up watching the Gators, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock for Florida.

Four-star wide receiver Aidan Mizell knows Florida football, and he’s the latest blue-chip receiver to catch the eye of Billy Napier and his recruiting staff, according to 247Sports.

Mizell’s parents both ran track for the Gators and he grew up wearing a Tim Tebow jersey. Now the central Florida recruit is talking daily with Florida’s staff as they attempt to convince him that Gainesville is indeed home.

The early returns are good. Mizell has enjoyed his talks with Napier and wide receivers coach Keary Colbert. In fact, he’s deemed Colbert as one of the top receiver coaches in the country. The only problem is Florida has yet to extend an offer.

“They said they are being patient,” Mizell said to 247Sports. “They said they wanted to get through the 2022 signing day and then they would be moving onto 2023 more. They haven’t said anything about an offer though. They have told me they like my speed and ability after the catch to make touchdowns though.”

An offer could come when Mizell makes it to campus. The plan is for him to stop by Gainesville in the spring or summer, but no dates are set just yet. Fortunately, Boone High School in Orlando is less than two hours from the University of Florida making it easy to plan a trip down the road.

Mizell wants to make his decision around the fall, but it’s not a given that he’ll pick the Gators if offered a scholarship. Still, it doesn’t hurt that he’s been watching Florida play since he was a kid.

“I grew up watching Florida and I always saw them on TV and I have been to few games over the years,” he said. “I have kept up with them as I was young growing up. Once I got to high school I started looking at colleges like a business decision, but 100-percent watched and followed Florida when I was younger.”

Making it a business decision is smart considering Mizell is ranked No. 172 overall on the 247Sports composite. He’s one of the top 25 wide receivers in the class of 2023 and the No. 31 recruit out of Florida.

Florida has looked at many receivers early on, and it can afford to sign multiple players at the position in the 2023 class.

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Florida and coach Billy Napier dish out offer to 4-star defensive lineman

Napier’s out there handing out offers like Oprah handing out hams.

Gators coach Billy Napier and his staff have been busy this past week, passing out offers to many recruits in the class of 2023. One player to recently receive the green light from Florida is four-star defensive lineman T.J. Searcy who hails from Thomaston, Georgia.

Napier was the coach who extended the offer to Searcy. His conversation with the head coach was his first one to date, but Napier made a strong first impression.

“He seems like a real cool guy,” he said. “He seemed really down to earth. He seemed like he knows what he is talking about. He seems like he cares about his players.”

However, linebackers coach Mike Peterson is someone Searcy has had a previous relationship with from when he recruited him to South Carolina. It’s made the transition between Florida and him smoother.

He likes Peterson because of how their talks don’t always center around football.

“He will ask me about myself and checks up on my family,” Searcy said. “I find those things important to me and he has already got that bond with me.”

He finds Peterson’s coaching style effective because of his ability to slow the game down for his players.

The Gators like Searcy as an edge outside rushing linebacker in their defense and believe his 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound frame fits what they want from that position.

He added that he doesn’t have any favorites at this point or when he wants to make a decision, but hopes to make a trip to Florida as well as Tennessee, Clemson and Auburn.

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In-state 4-star wide receiver set to take March visit to Florida

Napier and his army are relentlessly on the recruiting trail.

Florida will need to sign a good amount of wide receivers in 2023 after only taking one in coach Billy Napier’s first class. One name on the Gators board is four-star wideout Bryson Rodgers from Zephyrhills, Florida, and he plans to make the trip to see the Gators in March, according to Swamp247.

He was supposed to visit the Swamp in January before the February dead period but had to reschedule due to allergies. Rodgers told 247Sports’ Blake Alderman that an official date hasn’t been set but hopes to make the trip next month.

Napier and wide receivers coach Keary Colbert have prioritized him since they’ve arrived in Gainesville. Colbert visited his high school back in January and spoke with him over the phone a few times. During their conversations, Colbert reaffirmed his offer to suit up for the Orange and Blue as well as establish a relationship.

“I have been getting to know his personality, and he’s definitely different than coach (Billy) Gonzales,” Rodgers said. “It’s important for me to get to know that new personality and that new coach who wants to recruit me. He’s there to give me knowledge on the program.”

Napier and his staff have placed a stronger emphasis on the recruiting trail than the previous one, and that’s something the talented pass-catcher has noticed.

Rodgers said Colbert is ambitious and wants to bring more game-changing wideouts to Florida like it did in the past.

Colbert also isn’t the only coach he’s been speaking with, either.

“I have been talking to coach (Joe) Hamilton, too,” he said. “He and the other coaches told me they are going to come after me hard. Even coach (Billy) Napier told me I was someone who was really underrated in his eyes. In his opinion, he thought I should be a higher ranked guy, but he said the stars and stuff aren’t going to shy him away from recruiting me.”

Napier added that he loves his game and who he is as a person.

Last fall, Rodgers dropped a list of his top seven schools but scrapped it ultimately because of all the coaching changes. However, he hopes to make a commitment near the end of summer, so he can focus on his senior season.

In March, he plans to see Ohio State, Georgia and Florida State along with Florida.

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Gators targeting this 4-star offensive tackle from Orlando

Florida needs to do better recruiting offensive linemen under Billy Napier than it did under the previous staff.

The Florida Gators struggled to land blue-chip offensive linemen under the previous staff, but new coach Billy Napier is looking to fill the trenches with elite talent.

Four-star offensive tackle Payton Kirkland is emerging as an early priority target for UF, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-6-inch, 325-pounder has been in contact with several members of the new staff, including Napier and offensive line coach Rob Sale. Things started to ramp up between the two parties after the 2022 signing class was complete, and Kirkland is noticing the differences between the new staff and the old one.

“I’ve liked the staff so far,” Kirkland said. “They are a lot different from the last staff. They are really pushing me hard and I’m just thankful for that, and glad to be a priority for them. We will see what happens in the future…

“This new staff is always breathing down your neck. They want to make it as hard as possible to not come there. I like the approach they are taking with me. They just make it hard not to consider them.”

Kirkland isn’t short of Power Five offers. He named a top seven of Clemson, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State with offers from Alabama and Michigan State to fall back on. Florida still has time to squeeze its way in, but Kirkland says it’s about impressing his mother.

“I always tell these coaches, you’re going to have to recruit my mom more than you recruit me,” he said. “I am not too much into all the recruiting. I am more into playing football and being able to pour all the things back into the people over the years have poured into me.”

It sounds like Kirkland values the efforts his family has made to get him in a spot where so many of the nation’s elite want him playing for them. That’s the kind of high-character athlete Napier is likely to invest many resources in as he looks to establish a certain culture in Gainesville.

A mid-season commitment could be in the works for Kirkland, but he said that an announcement could come as late as the December early signing period. He plans on graduating early, which would give him an opportunity to enroll in the spring.

The 247Sports composite ranks Kirkland as the No. 203 overall prospect and the No. 17 offensive tackle in the 2023 class.

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Report: Lakeland 4-star WR planning March visit with Florida

Lakeland High has produced some quality recruits in the past that went on to play for Florida. Could this 4-star wide receiver be the next?

Four-star wide receiver Tyler Williams is the latest elite recruit to come out of Lakeland High, and he’s set to meet with the Florida Gators’ new staff in March, according to On3.

Florida has had plenty of success landing Lakeland recruits in the past, but this will be the first attempt by new coach Billy Napier. The Dreadnaughts have produced some of the very best to wear to the Orange and Blue, including the Pouncey twins.

“A lot of players from Lakeland have gone to play at Florida,” Williams said. “So there is some real history there. They have a new coaching staff, so I want to visit and meet them in March.”

Williams was on campus in November for the Florida State game, but that was before Napier was named the coach. The overall experience impressed him, but the coaches need to be the right fit as well. Wide receivers coach Keary Colbert has already established a relationship with Williams, and Napier checks in regularly.

“I am looking for the right fit for me,” he said. “It may be in state, it may be out of state, I just want to find the right fit. I am not sure what number I will get down to, but I want to make a smaller list later this spring.”

Right now the number of offers on Williams’ table is nearing 40, so narrowing it down to the very best only makes sense. That makes the March trip even more important for Florida. Williams will make stops by Stanford and Georgia before heading to Gainesville, and he’s already been by Miami and Clemson this year.

Napier wants to keep the best players from Florida in the state, and Williams fits the bill. The university’s history should help in the recruiting pitch, but it might be Napier’s ability to make players feel comfortable that helps out the most.

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Florida a top choice for this 2023 DB after receiving offer

Arch Manning isn’t the only Gators target with a famous relative. Meet Derwin James’ cousin, 2023 defensive back Jaremiah Anglin.

2023 defensive back Jaremiah Anglin is the latest recruit to receive an offer from the Florida Gators.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Toney and wide receivers coach Keary Colbert got in contact with Anglin on Thursday to deliver the news, according to Gators Online. The plan is for him to be on campus in March but no date is set just yet.

Anglin has some familiarity with the Gators coming out of the same high school as defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, Lake Wales High. He said that Dexter is like a mentor to him, but he still needs to meet the entire staff after the turnover.

“Man, this is a great offer being from Florida. It’s amazing,” Anglin said. “The Gators have always been a powerhouse. I’ve been to a couple of games and love the atmosphere in the Swamp.”

UF’s biggest competition appears to be Florida State after an unofficial visit put the Seminoles at No. 1 on Anglin’s board. Former FSU safety and current Los Angeles Charger Derwin James is also Anglin’s cousin.

Miami also got a chance to meet with him in January, and Cincinnati, Kentucky and South Carolina have all offered scholarships. While he doesn’t have a list of schools yet, Anglin does know that Florida is near the top of the group.

“Man, that’s Florida, you feel me? So, that’s always a top choice,” Anglin said. “But honestly, I don’t have a top 5-10 yet.”

Plenty of Power Five programs are expected to join the race in the coming months, but a March visit should put the Gators in a good spot to keep the in-state recruit at home.

Anglin is a three-star recruit and the No. 37 in the class of 2023, according to Rivals, but 247Sports and On3 have yet to rank him.

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Florida football re-offers this 4-star defensive lineman

The Gators circled back around again for this 4-star defensive lineman.

Four-star defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett previously held an offer from Florida under coach Dan Mullen. But on Monday, new head coach Billy Napier extended a scholarship toward the 6-foot-5-inch, 309-pound junior.

His relationship with the Gators is still in the early development stage, but Jarrett has a previous connection with one of Napier’s assistants: inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman. Jarrett told Corey Bender’s On3 that they developed a tight bond when Bateman coached at North Carolina. The new Florida assistant immediately reached out to Jarrett and started recruiting him to UF once Napier hired him.

Despite his ranking as a four-star defensive lineman, some schools are recruiting him to play offense. What about the Gators?

“They want me to be the big man in the middle on defense,” Jarrett said. “I prefer defense, but a lot of coaches want me on offense. Whatever works for them. Works for me.”

He also appreciates Bateman’s loyalty and belief in him. Because of that, Jarrett said Florida would make his top eight or nine if he made a list.

“I just love their support,” he said. “Their fans support the heck out of their school. The games are awesome and the whole town is there, so it’s just awesome. The coaches are cool, too; the new coaches are great.”

When the recruiting dead period is lifted at the start of March, he plans to visit Tennessee on March 5, but Jarrett said he’s mulling visits to Florida and Georgia, too.  He also holds offers from Alabama, Miami, Michigan, Kentucky, Penn State as well as others.

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This 5-star defensive lineman is visiting Florida in March

Another five-star recruit is stopping by the Swamp in March.

Five-star defensive lineman Vic Burley has set up three visits for the month of March and one of them is to the University of Florida according to 247Sports.

Once the dead period ends, Burley will make stops by Florida State and USC before closing up the month in Gainesville. He’s set to arrive on March 26, and it will be his first chance to meet new head coach Billy Napier and his staff. Burley made trips to the Swamp in June and September, but that was under Dan Mullen‘s staff.

Napier and defensive line coach Sean Spencer have prioritized Burley in recent weeks. The 6-foot-5-inch, 265-pounder has an 81-inch wingspan. That’s the kind of size needed to play in the trenches in college football’s top conference.

Georgia and Tennessee are two other names in the race for Burley. Both schools hosted Burley in January, but he hasn’t released a list of his top school just yet. Playing high school ball in Georgia could help the Bulldogs out in his recruitment

The 247Sports composite ranks Burley as the No. 33 overall recruit in the nation and the No. 5 defensive lineman in the country. Stealing the No. 2 player out of Georiga would be a big win for Billy Napier over the Gators’ biggest rival.

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